Missile transfer dolly



Jan. 23, 1962 E. s. CULVER 3,018,129

MISSILE TRANSFER DOLLY Original Filed March 20, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,u INVENTOR Eugene .S. Culver N s E Q L '& Q

Jan. 23, 1962 E. s. CULVER 3,018,129

MISSILE TRANSFER DOLLY Original Filed March 20, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m Q ref 5i n J INVENTOR "3 L J O l? Eu fine 5 Culver W 1 g BY W @MW E M MW ATTORNEYS Jan. 23, 1962 E. s. CULVER MISSILE TRANSFER DOLLY Original Filed March 20, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 mwt INVENTOR Eugene 3. Culver BY 74/ fla ATTORNEYS Jan. 23, 1962 E. s. CULVER MISSILE TRANSFER DOLLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed March 20, 1959 IN VENTOR Eugene 5. Culver ATTORNEYS Unite grates The instant application is a division of application Serial No. 800,901, filed March 20, 1959, by Eugene S. Culver for Missile Transfer Dolly and since issued as Patent No. 2,996,310.

The present invention relates generally to material handling apparatus which is especially suited for handling ordnance devices such, for example, as guided missile components, from ship to ship at sea, or from dockside to ship. More specifically, the invention pertains to an improved handling device for receiving and transporting the components of a guided missile from the time of issue thereof from a shore depot to delivery aboard a missile firing ship, including introduction of such missile components into the ships strike-down system. The device includes a cradle for receiving and supporting the missile components and which is adapted to be detachably secured to a dolly structure whereupon the components may be transported into the ships strike-down area.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for supporting and transporting missile components.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handling device wherein the missile component carrier is releasably locked to the transporting dolly.

Still another object is to provide a handling devicewherein quick operating toggle latches permit rapid removal and replacement of a cradle on a wheeled structure.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the component cradle mounted on the transfer dolly;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one end of the dolly with the cradle removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view illustrating one of the cradle latch elements;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view illustrating an alternate arrangement of the latch element of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views and more particularly to FIG. 1, the numeral 16 generally indicates the cradle. The cradle comprises an elongated U-shaped body 11 composed of any material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as light gauge sheet metal, reinforced as shown at highly stressed locations. The cradle is provided at opposite ends thereof with a quick-opening door 12 of any suitable type and the inside of the U-shaped body 11 may be padded at the missile support points with sponge rubber to prevent chatting of the missile or component, as the case may be. The body 11 carries a pair of saddles 13 adjacent each end thereof, as is more clearly shown on FIG. 3. Each of these saddles is secured to the body 11 and comprises a pair of mutually spaced plates 14- extending outwardly atent O p 3,618,129 Patented Jan. 23, 1962 from the body, the purpose of which will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

The transfer dolly employed with the cradle is indicated by the numerals 15 and comprises a substantially rectangular frame 16 which includes side rails 17 and end rails 18. The dolly is supported by adjustable leg or wheel assemblies 21 mounted on the frame 16, as shown, each assembly being provided with a caster 22.

Extending transversely of the side rails 17 and carried thereby near each terminal end thereof is a tubular support 23, each support carrying a cradle mount generally indicated by the reference character 24. For a more complete understanding of the cradle mount structure attention is directed to FIG. 3 which illustrates one of the cradle mounts. It will he noted that the rail 23 is provided with a pair of mutually spaced plates 25, each of these plates having secured thereto, as by bolts or screws 26 a member 27, the bolts extending through rails 23. Member 28, which is similar to member 27, is secured to the cradle mount 24, as by bolts or screws 29, the aforesaid members or plates 27 and 28 having shear blocks 31 disposed therebetween and composed of any material suitable for the purposes such, for example, as rubber or the like. By this arrangement, the mount 24 is resiliently mounted on the rail 23 and maintained in spaced relation with respect to rail 23. To retain the mounts 24 against displacement from the dolly, chain link couplings 30, FIG. 3, provide a non-rigid connection between the central portions of the mounts and the transverse supports 23.

Each mount 24 is a substantially inverted U-shape in cross-section and straddles the plates or members 28, the upper surface having a resilient pad 32 secured thereto and upon which the bottom wall 33 rests when the cradle 10 is detachably connected to the dolly. The mount 24 is provided with a pair of elongated slots 34 at each terminal end thereof, the slots having a pair of notches 35 bordering thereon, as is best shown in FIG. 3. Mounted in the slots 34 in each of the mounts 24, for swinging movement, are a pair of links 36. The links 36 are pivotally connected at their ends, as by a bolt 37, to a latch member 38, the lower ends thereof being connected by a bolt 39 which is slidably disposed in the slots 34. The aforesaid mechanism is most clearly shown on FIGS. 5 and 6, it being understood that :a pair of such mechanisms are carried by each mount 24, as shown in FIG. 3.

It will be noted, FIG. 5, that the latches 38 are each provided with a recess 41, the walls defining the recess are each provided with an aperture 42 near the free end thereof. A hairpin shaped spring latch element generally indicated by the numeral 43 is rotatably mounted on the member 38 and comprises a loop portion 44 having a pair of mutually spaced legs 45 extending therefrom, each leg terminating in a journal 46 disposed in one of each of the apertures 42 formed in member 38. The journals 46 extend a predetermined amount beyond the outer surfaces of the member 38 and a stop element 47 is provided thereon for preventing movement of the journals 46 out of engagement with apertures 42 upon manual compression of the legs 45.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, it will be noted that each spaced wall or plate 14 of the saddles 13 is provided with an aperture 48 and a notch 49, the apertures 48 cooperating with the journals 46 on member 43 and the notches 49 cooperating with pivot bolt 37 when the cradle is locked to the frame.

In operation, the latches 38 at each end of the mounts 24 are moved to a position, as best shown on FIG. 6, between the spaced plates 14 of the saddle 13, the legs 45 of the hairpin spring 43 being manually compressed to permit entry of the journals 46 within the confines of 3 the aforesaid plates and in registration with their respective opening 48 in plates 14. When the pressure on the legs 45 is released, the journals or locking ends 46 thereof engage in the aforesaid opening 48 in plates 14 and the bolts 37 engage in notches 49 in plates 14 and thus the cradle is releasably locked to the frame 16.

By reference to FIG. 3, it will be observed that by moving the links 36 into one or the other of the notches 35 bordering on the elongated slot 34, the latches 38 may be positioned for retaining either a relatively wide cradle, as indicated by the dashed-outline or a relatively narrow cradle, as indicated in fulllines.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a modified latch structure is shown in connection with the aforementioned cradle structure, comprising cradle 10, saddle 13, spaced plates 14 of the saddle, apertures 48 and notches 49 in each plate. In this arrangement, cradle mount 51 is generally similar to cradle mount 24, except that, in lieu of the slots 34 a tubular bearing is provided at each end thereof, the bearing being indicated by numeral 52. A latch 53 is mounted for swinging movement in the loop or bearing 52, as by mutually spaced links 54, a pin 55, and bolt 56 and is provided with a hairpin spring identical in structure to spring 43.

The cradle 10 is positioned on cradle mount 51 and supported on shear blocks, one being shown at 57. The shear block 57 is carried by a support 58 secured to a transverse tubular member 59 similar to the member 23, as by bolts 61 or the like.

In use, and when it is desired to releasably secure the cradle on the dolly employing the modified latch structure, the latch 53 is moved in an upward direction to engage between the plates 14 of saddle 13, the spring being compressed manually for permitting entry of the end portions or journals between the plates 14 and in registration with apertures 48 therein. When the manual pressure is removed, the journals 46 will be engaged in the apertures 48 and the bolt 56 seated in the notches 49 and thus the cradle is releasably locked to the dolly.

The cradles 10 are constructed and arranged so that they may be easily handled by a suitable hoist or fork lift truck and may be stacked while in storage, if desired.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A transfer dolly including a frame having side rails and supports extending transversely of the frame and connected to the side rails, leg assemblies supporting the frame above a surface, a cradle releasably attached to the frame for supporting a load, saddles carried by said cradle and provided with spaced walls, cradle mounts carried by said supports, shear blocks resiliently connecting the cradle mounts to the supports, linkages pivotally mounted on said cradle mounts, latches pivotally mounted on the linkages and movable between said spaced Walls, means carried by said linkages at one end thereof for mounting the latches for pivotal movement, locking means carried by said latches and movable between said spaced Walls into engagement therewith for releasably locking the cradle to the mounts, and means carried by said latches in the path of travel of said locking means for controlling the movement of said locking means as the locking means are actuated to a release position.

2. A transfer dolly as recited in claim 1, including slots formed in said cradle mounts, means carried by said linkages at the other end thereof and cooperating with said slots for adjustably mounting the linkages on the cradle mounts whereby said latches and locking means may be moved by the linkages an amount sufiiciently to accommodate cradles of varying Widths.

3. A transfer dolly as recited in claim 1, wherein said saddle Walls are provided with openings, and said locking means comprise spring members having compressible tines journaled in the latches and movable into engagement with said openings for locking the cradle to said cradle mounts, said spring members being manually compressible to move said tines out of locking engagement with said openings thereby to release said cradle? from said cradle mounts.

4. A transfer dolly including a frame having side rails connected by end rails, supports extending transversely of the frame and connected to said side rails, leg assemblies carried by and supporting the frame, a load supporting cradle releasably attached to the frame, saddles carried by said cradle and provided with mutually spaced walls, cradle mounts carried by said supports and having aligned slots therein, adjustable and pivotally mounted latches, said latches including locking means movable into locking engagement with said spaced walls when the latches are moved to a locking position, pairs of links adjustably mounted on said cradle mounts, means connecting said lower end of the links and slidably disposed within said slots for adjustably mounting said links in the cradle mounts so that the latches are adjustable therewith, means for connecting the corresponding upper ends of said pairs of links to one of each of said latches for pivotally mounting the latches thereto so that the latches may be moved to said locking position, and means provided in the spaced walls of the saddles for receiving said locking means when the latches are in said locking position.

5. A transfer dolly as recited in claim 4, wherein said locking means include a substantially U-shaped manually compressible spring having locking elements at the terminal ends thereof and rotatably mounted on the latches.

6. A transfer dolly as recited in claim 4, wherein said spaced walls are provided with notches for receiving said means for connecting the corresponding upper ends of the links when the latches are in said locking position for additionally maintaining the latches in said locking position.

7. A transfer dolly as recited in claim 4, wherein said slots are provided with a pair of mutually spaced notches for receiving said means connecting the lower endspf said pairs of links to maintain the links and latches inlan adjusted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,804,542 Perin May 12, 1931 1,862,632 Perin June 14, 1932 2,223,275 Valenzuela Nov. 26, 1940 2,606,039 LaRue Aug. 5, 1952 2,851,235 Henig Sept. 9, 1958 

